what men like you always say,--in all sincerity, of
course. Your modesty always stands in the way of your happiness for a
while: but you are no losers by it. The happiness is all the sweeter
when it comes at last."

"But that is not what I mean. You have made it difficult for me to
explain myself. I hardly know how to say it; but it must be said. You
have mistaken my intentions,--mistaken them altogether."

It was now Mrs Grey's turn to change colour. She asked in a trembling
voice:

"Do you mean to say, Mr Hope, that you have not been paying attentions
to Hester Ibbotson?"

"I do say so; that I have paid no attentions of the nature you suppose.
You compel me to speak plainly."

"Then I must speak plainly too, Mr Hope. If any one had told me you
would play the part you have played, I should have resented the
imputation as I resent your conduct now. If you have not intended to
win Hester's affections, you have behaved infamously. You have won her
attachment by attentions which have never varied, from the very first
evening that she entered our house, till this afternoon. You have
amused yourself with her, it seems; and now you are going to break her
heart."

"Stop, stop, Mrs Grey! I cannot hear this."

"There is not a soul in the place that does not think as I do. There is
not a soul that will not say--."

"Let us put aside what people may say. If, by any imprudence of my own,
I have brought blame upon myself, I must bear it. The important point
is--. Surely, Mrs Grey, it is possible that you may be in error about
Miss Ibbotson's--Miss Ibbotson's state of mind."

"No, Mr Hope, it is not possible." And being in for it, as she said,
Mrs Grey gave such a detail of her observations, and of unquestionable
facts, as left the truth indeed in little doubt.

"And Margaret," said Mr Hope, in a troubled voice: "do you know
anything of her views of my conduct?"

"Margaret is not so easily seen through as Hester," said Mrs Grey: an
assertion from which Mr Hope silently dissented; Margaret appearing to
him the most simple-minded person he had ever known; lucid in her
sincerity, transparent in her unconsciousness. He was aware that Mrs
Grey had been so occupied with Hester as not to have been open to
impression from Margaret.

"Margaret is not so easily seen through as Hester, you know; and she and
I have never talked over your conduct confidentially: but if Margaret
does not perceive the alteration in